Kerala artist Joy Mathew’s works featured at Busan environment art festival

Contemporary artist Joy Mathew from Thrissur is among more than 800 artists participating in the Busan International Environment Art Festival (BIEAF), with both his works selected for its online exhibition, which began in September, and will continue until February 2027.“It’s very exciting to share space on a global stage with artists from different places. Both the works I submitted were selected,” says JoyKnown for his distinctive rock-art technique, Joy creates textured surfaces that resemble rock. “Most of my works follow this style, which has become my distinctive identity. I experimented a lot before arriving at it. Not every subject can be expressed through this technique, so it depends on what we want to convey,” he says.One of the selected works, Existence, explores resilience amid harsh living conditions. The painting depicts women and children making their way along thorny, pebbled paths under the scorching sun, with bamboo groves serving as a metaphor for resilience and community. “No matter which path they choose, only resilience can get them there. The bamboo is a testimony to this. But it also teaches us that growing aggressively does not have to mean suppressing others, because each bamboo knows that together they are a formidable force — a lesson in resilience and community,” he says.His second work reflects on the purity of the human heart in a world that has endured the fossil-fuel era, while looking towards technology and sustainable governance with hope.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!